WelCom April 2020:
Lisa Beech
The Wellington Archdiocesan Commission for Ecology, Justice and Peace, told the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee on 12 February, that raising benefit levels is essential if the Government wishes to achieve its Budget goals to address child poverty and enhance child wellbeing.
‘Benefit levels are so low it is impossible to live on them,’ EJP Commission Poverty Committee member Mary Margaret Schuck told the select committee considering the 2020 Budget Policy Statement.
The EJP Commission supports the overall Budget goals to address child poverty, ensure a just transition to a low-emissions economy, lift Māori and Pasifika incomes, and improve physical and mental wellbeing. However, the Government must implement the Welfare Expert Advisory Group’s recommendations to lift benefit levels, the EJP Commission said.
The Commission told the Select Committee that as well as the permanent financial insecurity that low benefit levels cause for beneficiaries, it is an ineffective and inefficient use of managing social welfare assistance intended to help the most vulnerable. A great deal of public and community time is used support people to get assistance at the margins, the Commission said.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December
‘As has been the custom for many years an archdiocesan Mass will be celebrated on our diocesan feast day, 7pm, Thursday 8 December, at St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Karori. The archdiocese will again be entrusted to the care of Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception at this Mass. Parishes are asked to renew that Consecration on the following Sunday, 11 December, at All parish Masses.’ – Cardinal John Dew
Dates and events – what’s on
December 2022
If you would like your event listed on this page, please send an outline to welcom@wn.catholic.org.nz including name of event, date, time, location and contact.
Pope Francis registers for the next World Youth Day in Lisbon
At the conclusion of the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis registered for the next World Youth Day to be held in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023. Assisted and accompanied by Portuguese university students studying in Rome, the Pope tapped his way to becoming the first officially registered pilgrim for World Youth Day.